Conditioning container for shotgun shells



June 11, 1957 s. w. AMUNDSEN CONDITIONING coNTAINER A'FOR -sHoTGUN lsx-nin..1.s

Filed Aug. 11,l 1954 2,7 95,323 CONDITIONNG CONTAINER FOR SHOTGUN SHELLS Sidney Wallace Amundsen, Two Harbors, Minn.

Application August 11, 1954, Serial No. 449,19)

3 Claims. (Cl. 206-3) This invention relates to a conditioning container for shotgun shells and more particularly to a box for storing and transporting shotgun shells While retaining or restoring the proper degree of crimp in the forward or pellet end of the shell.

Shotgun shells have casings which are made from metallic stock such as brass at the end containing Van explosive charge and having fibrous sheet casing in the shape of a cylinder with the forward end being wadded with felt or paper over the pellets or shot and the forwardmost cylindrical edge then crimped inwardly and reversely to retain the wadded material and the shot within the shell, When the shell is exploded by triggering the charge in a shotgun, the shell load will be projected forwardly from the gun with the wad and paper covering preceding the pellets. The crimp in the fiber casing is instantaneously straightened out against the inside surface of the shotgun chamber. Although the shotgun shell is originally formed with a uniform diameter, the stress created on the inwardly and reversely crimped end may cause a subsequent annular bulge, especially if the shell has become wet or damp. Often such shell will jam in the gun and prevent a hunter from executing an opportune shot. In some instances the shell has only a slight swell which creates additional friction in advancing a shell from the magazine to the firing chamber, but in other instances the shell will no t even move in the magazine or chamber and the gun will then be rendered completely inoperative.

l have discovered that shells may be corrected for the increased annular dimension and may even be prevented from swelling if confined simply in a crimping structure which constitutes the crux of my invention and is so designed as to condition the shells continuously while releasably retaining them in a convenient container for easy storage, transportation and use.

it is therefore an important object of the invention to provide a shotgun shell conditioning and retaining device which will cheaply and eiciently correct any change in the outside diameter of the crimped portion thereof while maintaining the shells compactly arranged for convenient storage, transportion and use.

It is another object of the invention to provide an apparatus of simple design wherein a tapered receiving sleeve can frictionally retain the shell in secured position while simultaneously applying a suflicient degree of pressure to effect correction and prevent swelling of the shell at the crimped annulus.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a convenient carrying container for a multiplicity of shells in closely arranged manner wherein each of the shells is frictionally retained at the` very area requiring compressive treatment, yet may be easily removed for instant use.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a device of the class described in which the crimping condition can be accomplished by a simple inserting and 21,795,323 Patented June 11, 1957 wedging action and the removal of the shell may be also simply accomplished by a reverse action, the shell always being properly crimped for reliable usage, especially in a repeater or automatic type shotgun.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and in which: v

Fig. 1 is an isometric view of my container and con ditioner, the cover of the box being in open condition and an area of the partition sheet cut away to showthe internal structure of the box and several shells being shown in retained and crimped position therein;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section of a segment of the box shown in Fig. 1 taken on the line 2-2, the shot" gun shell being illustrated in full line; and i Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section of a segment of an alternate form of my invention utilizing a similar box structure with the crimping and retaining element in spaced relation with the partition, the View being taken in the same relative location as that of the first form of the invention.

With continued reference to the drawing, my invention contemplates the use of a box 10 having an encircling wall structure 11 defining a storage space 12 over which a closure such as a hinged cover 13 may be positioned in the conventional manner. Hasps or latches 14 with cooperating elements 15 may be employed to secure the cover in closed position when shotgun shells are being stored or transported. The encircling wall structure 11 is preferably formed of upstanding rectangular y sheet members having an upper edge 16 and a lower edge 17 as shown in Fig. l. The box is preferably watertight so as to prevent the accumulation of Water or dampness within the box during its use. v

A partition structure 18 is secured to the wall structure and traverses the space defined thereby, preferably at a position adjacent the top edge 16 but slightly theref enough to receive transversely a shotgun shell with the forward end inserted thereinto.

Referring now to Fig. 2, each of the openings 19. in the partition sheet 18 is provided with a crimping.y sleeve 20 which, in the form shown, is an elongated cylin drical member, the Vupper end 21 of ywhich is secured transversely to the sheet 18 and having its central bore coincident with the opening 19 as shown. The lower end of the crimping sleeve terminates in a tapered end portion 22, the tapered portion being in the form of an inverted fnusto-conical cylinder. The large portion 23 of the frusto-conical portion of the crimping sleeve is preferably of the same diameter as the upper end 21 of the entire sleeve. The lower end 24 is smaller than the outside diameter of the shotgun shell inserted within the crimping sleeve. The degree of taper is such to exert a binding effect on shell 25 so that the crimped end 26 of the shell will be compressed and retained at an area intermediate the ends of the frusto-conical portion 22 and thereby maintained and prevented from swelling before use. The upper or explosive charge end 27 of the shotgun shell 25 projects upwardly for a short distance above the partition sheet 18 so that the shell may be easily removed from the wedged or frictioually held position shell in a shotgun. In the form shown in Fig. 2, it is not essential that a separate bottom member be formed for the box since the underside of partition sheet 18 together with the outside surface of the crimping sleeves 2.0 will constitute an enclosure to keep the shells dry and away from the atmosphere. Y

Referring now to'Fig. 3, another form ofthe invention is shown in'which'the same transverse sheet 18 is secured across an upper portion ofthe box and may similarly. be provided with a ,plurality of symmetrically formed openings 19. In the form shown in Fig. 3, however, theicrimping.. and retaining portion ofthe box is shown at 28 and constitutes a member rigidly andtransversely, disposed within the space g12` of box 10 and also in spaced parallel/relation with ythe upper transverse sheet l8r-as shown. j, A pluralityvof recessesor short tapered sleeves29 is forme-d in the member 28 so as to be in axial alignment with'the openingsx19 in the upper partition sheet 18,. The tapered crimping sleeve 29 is of fruStO-.Qonical shape similar to the lower end of sleeve 20 in the first form. The upper edge 30 of the short crimping sleeve has a diameter larger than the original diameter of the shotgun shell. The lower end 31 has a diameter at least as small as the original outside diameter of the s hell so that the shell 25, when inserted into one of the short crimping sleeves, will have its lower end 26 wedged therein at a position intermediate the ends thereof or adjacent the bottom edge 31 of the frusto-conieal sleeve. A separate box bottom 32 may be supplied in which case it is not necessary to provide a bottom for the crimping sleeves 29 since air and moisture can be prevented from entering the innerspace of the box with the closure 13 in latched position. Here again the upper or explosive charge end 27 of the shotgun shell projects upwardlyl from the upper partition sheet 18 for a short distance so'that the shell may be easily inserted and removed to seat it in the crimping sleeve 29 as previously noted.

As will be evident from the foregoing, the user may place'the contents of one or more boxes of shotgun shells with the forewardmost end 26 downwardly disposed through an opening 19 and until it engages and becomes seated in the frusto-conical crimping sleeve 29 or in the lower tapered end 22 of sleeve element 20. As the for- Ward end 26 becomes wedged in the tapered sleeve, it may befurther pushed downwardly and twisted to prevent accidental displacement from its position and to retain the forwardmost crimped end of the shell in a compressed condition to prevent swelling of the shell at that position or to correct a shotgun shell which has already become swollen and distended at its forward end. When it is desired to use the shell, it may simply be twisted and lifted to disengage the end 26 from the crimping positionand the shell will slide easily into the magazine and chamber of the shotgun without danger of becoming jammed or creating undue resistance.

It may thus be seen that I have devise-d a novel and useful container for shotgun, shells in whichY the shells may be retained frictionally in a compressed condition at the forewardmost crimped end thereof to prevent and to correct swelling and distention which is characteristic of shotgunV shells having crimped forward ends.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the various p-arts without departing from the scope of my invention. Y

What is claimed is:

1. A shotgun shell package assembly comprising a watertight outer receptacle having an open top and a watertight cover therefor, a plurality of frusto-conic-al members secured within said receptacle closely adjacent the bottom'wall thereof,veach of said members being disposed in upstanding relation with its smaller end closely adjacent said bottom w-all of the receptacle and its larger end disposed uppermost and terminating within said ref ceptacle at a point a substantial distance below the open top of said receptacle, a plurality of shotgun shells disposed in said receptacle: each having its crimped end received within a respective frusto-conical member and with the percussion cap' end of each shell within the confines of the receptacle,- means fixed Within the receptacle above the larger ends of the frusto-conical members' for maintaining said shotgun shells in vertical position within the receptacle, each frusto-conical member having a substantially uniform taper on its inner surface with its upper end being larger than and its lower end being smaller than the diameter of the crimped end of an associated shotgun shell, and the crimped endof each shell being forcibly projected into its associated frusto-conical member and constricted thereby.

2. In the assembly as dened in and by claim 1 wherein each of said frusto-conical members is provided with an integral sleeve extending upwardly from the larger end thereof.

3. The assembly as defined in and by claim 2 wherein said frusto-conic-al members are formed from a single sheet of material secured within the lower portion of said receptacle and with each of said frusto-conical members being struck downwardly from said sheet.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 129,545 Frazier July 16, 1872 505,645 Wolff Sept. 26, 1893 848,500 Schwarz Mar. 26, 1907 2,356,969 Blum Aug. 29, 1944 2,429,305 Barnes Oct. 2l, 1947 2,557,222 Goode June 19, 1951 2,557,420 Elliott June 19, 1951 

